Sectional container



Sept. 16, 1952 D, BALL 2,610,760

SECTION AL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 30, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Inventor Dex/er 0. Ball Sept. 16, 1952 D. D. BALL ,51

ssc'nomu. commmaa Filed Aug. so, 1948 2 Sl-lEETS-Sl-IEET z Inventor r68 Dex/c 0.. Ball Patented Sept. 16, 1952 OFFICE 2,610,760 SECTIONAL, CONTAINER Dexter 1). Ball, Cincinnati, Ohio Application August 30, 1948, Serial No. 46,817

6 Claims. (o1. ace-23.4)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sectional containers and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of substantially rectangular containers or cases that are so designed as to permit the same to be nestled or stacked in a novel and improved manner to prevent the same from overtipping.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a sectional container or bottle case, of the commercial type, including a pair of juxtaposed, substantially rectangular bodies, and embodying novel and improved means for detachably securing said bodies relative to each other whereby the same may be quickly and readily assembled or disassembled in a convenient manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a, pair of substantially rectangular, joined sections having their walls formed with hearing strips that will support the lower portions of a further pair of substantially rectangular sections which are nestled in the first-mentioned sections.

A still further aim or" the present invention w fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sectional container constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 2--2 of Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, front elevational view showing a plurality of the sectional containers arranged in stacked position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the sections that is used in conjunction with the present sectional container;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the end walls for the section illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the sections of the present sectional container in slightly modified form; and.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the end walls for the container illustrated in Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figures l-6, inclusive, where- 2 in for the purpose oi. illustration, there is disclosed one embodiment of the present invention. The numeral I0 represents an upper member or sectional container generally, that includes a pair of substantially rectangular bodies or sections [2 and H which are formed of any suitable lightweight material, such as sheet metal, aluminum or the like.

The sections l2 and [4 each include a pair of end walls designated generally by the numeral l6 having upper and lower spaced parallel sections or panels [8 and which are joined by a connecting strip or section 22 that is perpendicular to the upper and lower'sections l8 and 20 and which forms a bearing surface or shoulder for a purpose which will later be more fully apparent.

The vertical side edges of the upper and lower sections I8 and 20 are turned inwardly to provide upper and lower retaining flanges 24 and 26, and the lower horizontal edge of the lower sections 20 of the end wall [6 are turned inwardly and are undulated to provide lower retaining flanges 28. 1

The numeral 30 represents the bottom walls for the sections l2 and M, which include upwardly extending side pieces forming spaced par allel side walls 32 and 34 which are secured by rivets, welding or the like to the side flanges 26 and 24 of the end walls I 6.

The bottom wall 30 is undulated' to provide a plurality of spaced parallel bearing ribs 36 which bear against and are secured to the undersurfaces of the flanges 28 by any suitable means.

The upper section W of the side walls [6 and the side walls 32 of the sections I2 and [4 are notched as at 38 and 40, respectively, to provide hand-grips or openings 42.

The opposed side walls 32 of the sections l2 and M are joined by a channel-shaped strip 44 integrally formed withthe upper edge of the side wall 32 of the section N that engages the upper edge of the side wall 32 of the section [2.

The side walls 32 of each section I2 and I4 include upper sections or portions 46 that bear against each other, and lower sections or portions 48 which are spaced parallel to each other to provide a longitudinal opening 50.

The upper and lower portions 46 and 48 are joined by longitudinal connecting strips or sections 52 that form bearing shoulders or surfaces,

The upper edges 54 of the side walls and end walls are folded inwardly to provide rounded portions that will eliminate sharp edges at the upper open portion of the sections l2 and l 4, and

a resilient, flexible and pliable pad of any suitable material 56,is placed against the bottom wall 30 to support bottles or the like.

In practical use of the present invention, the

sections 12 and 14 are joined as shown best in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, so that the openings 38 in the two containers or sections 12 and M will communicate to form an'elongated hand-receiving opening for carrying the containers or the handling thereof.

An upper container 58 similar to the aforementioned container IQ is then inserted into the container so that the upper portions 46 of the side walls 32 will be received in the opening between the lower portions 43 of the side walls 32 for the upper container 58 and the bottom walls of the sections l2 and M for the upper container 58 will be supported on the sections or shoulders 22 and 52 of the lower container It.

By using the sections l2 and [4 independently,

the stack arrangement illustrated in Figure 4 may, be accomplished, or many other variations in retaining the sections .12 and I 4 relative to each other in a conveniently accessible position.

Reference is new directed'to Figures 7 and 8, wherein there is disclosed-the present invention in slightly modified form. In this embodiment,

the side walls 32 and 34 include upper and lower end flanges 60 and 62 which overlie the outer faces of the upper and lower spaced parallel portions or sections 64 and S6 of the end walls 58, and are fixed thereto by welding or the like. The

ends of the bottom wall 39 arcprovided with upstanding flanges which are secured to the inner faces of the lower portions 66 of the end walls 65.

The side walls and end walls of the containers 70, formed in accordance with the latest embodiment, are joined and are associated in the same manner as previously described and include the supporting shoulders 12 and opening 74. g

The lower portions 48 of the side walls (-32 and 34 are formed with ventilating and. draining apertures 76 so that any moisture or liquid accumulating in the containers will pass outwardly therefrom.

It should be noted that the structural differences between the section 10, illustrated in Figure 7, and the section 12, illustratedin Figure 5, is the manner in which the end walls are joined to the side Walls, and all structural features of the two containers or sections are similar.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is hereinshown and described a preferred embodimentof the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

1. A sectional container comprising first and second substantially rectangular bodies disposed in side by side relationship, each of said bodies having a bottom wall, a pair of end walls and inner and outer side walls, said inner side walls each having upper and lower sections that are spaced parallel to each other and disposed one above the other and a connecting section between each of said upper and lower sections and perpendicular thereto, means carried by the upper section of said first body engaging the upper section of the second body and retaining the upper sections of said bodies fixed relative to each other and in abutting relationship, the lower section of said first body being spaced parallel to the lower section of said second body to provide a longitudinal opening, the outer sidewalls of said body being .flat and smooth throughout their lengths and widths.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the end walls of said bodies are flush with each other, said end walls being provided with communicating slots which together form hand-grips at both ends of said bodies.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means includes a substantially channel-shaped strip at the upper edge of the inner side wall of said first body.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bottom walls are undulated to provide a plurality of spaced parallel, longitudinal bearing ribs.

5. A sectional container comprising two substantially rectangular side by side bodies, each of said bodies including inner and outer side walls and a pair of end walls, the end walls of said bodies including lower inwardly offset end portions and the inner side walls of said'bodies also including inwardly offset lower end portions, the upper end portions of said inner side walls being vertical and flat and contacting each other and the lower end portions of said inner side walls being spaced parallel to each other, and means joining the upper end portions of said inner side walls.

6. A sectional container comprising a member including a pair of side by side substantially rectangular bodies each including a bottom wall, a pair of end walls and inner and outer side walls, said inner side Walls each having upper and lower sections that are spaced parallel to each other and disposed one above the other and a perpendicular section joining each of said upper and lower sections, means carried by the upper section of one of said inner side walls engaging the upper section of the other inner side wall to retain the inner side walls of the bodies against each other, the lower sections of said inner side walls being spaced parallel to each other to define an opening extending throughout the length of the container, whereby the adjacent outer side walls of a pair of side by side containers, similar to the first named container, may fit between the lower sections of said inner side walls with their upper edges supporting said perpendicular sections, whereby a group of containers may be arranged in staggered relationship.

DEXTER. D. BALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,575,906 .Frey -1 Mar. 9, ,1926 1,678,008 Jackson July 24, 1928 2,064,518 Brogden Q Dec. 15, 1936 2,257,142 Weiner Sept. 30, 1941 2,305,853 Shaw Dec. 15, 1942 2,311,723 Anderson Feb. 23, 1943 2,429,494 Stephens Oct. 21, 1947 2,434,803 Johnson Jan. 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 69,217 Norway Apr. 30, 1945 

